Home / About / Doug Bennett
Doug Bennett

Doug Bennett


Doug Bennett, Echo, Ore., has been a Hereford breeder for more than 40 years. Born into the purebred Shorthorn business, he got his start in the Hereford business after graduating from Washington State College in 1960 when he began managing Lehn Bros. Herefords. He spent three years at Lehn Bros. before going back to school.

After earning his master’s, Doug stayed in the Hereford business, working as manager of Stone Hereford Ranch. In 1970 he partnered with his brother, Don, and Howard Stone on a ranch called High Meadows Cattle Co. near Wallowa, Ore. The trio developed a top-notch herd before selling in 1976. In the same year, Doug managed a record-setting dispersal sale for Stone Hereford Ranch.

Doug and Don then purchased Stone Hereford Ranch and developed it into Oregon Hereford Ranch.

In 1979 Doug headed south to Texas to partner with Sam Friedman and develop Lone Star Hereford Ranch. He returned to Oregon in 1998 to Oregon Hereford Ranch where he started a backgrounding operation. Then last March, Doug began selling part of his Hereford herd and says he is now “semi-retired.”

Doug has been a longtime leader in not only the Hereford industry but the entire cattle industry as well. “His accomplishments at Stone Hereford Ranch, Lone Star Hereford Ranch and Oregon Hereford Ranch are legendary,” says Dale Venhuizen of Churchill Cattle Co., Manhattan, Mont.

Doug has also benefited the industry through serving in various leadership roles. He has served on the AHA Board, as president and director of the Oregon, Washington, N. Idaho Hereford Association (OWNI), as president of the Breed Improvement Federation (BIF) and as executive committee member of the Texas Hereford Association.

Jack Evans, EE Ranches, Winona, Miss., says of Doug, “Whether managing the cow herd, feeding, fitting and showing Denver champions, or handling merchandising and production sales, Doug Bennett is one of our greatest all-around cattlemen.”